Jean-Pierre Bélanger teaches history and civic education at Collège Clarétain, a private high school located on the outskirts of Victoriaville, Quebec. He’s been teaching for 28 years, starting his career as a coach and then PE teacher.

This might explain his enthusiasm and deep-seeded desire to see his students succeed. However, his definition of “success” implies more than good grades and passing tests (which he also cares about). Bélanger encourages his students to become active citizens and helps them to develop the habits of informed and responsible citizenship through a wide array of authentic civic education activities. 

He discovered CIVIX in 2015. That was the year he registered for the first time to the Student Vote program and attended his first Democracy Bootcamp in Montreal, the very first Bootcamp held in Quebec. Since that time, Bélanger has attended all the events organized by CIVIX in the province. That is probably why the CIVIX team in Quebec call him the “veteran.”

Let's stop being exclusive and start being inclusive. That's how we can open up to others and reach out to them.

At the beginning, his was the only class that participated in Student Vote at Collège Clarétain and Bélanger did most of the heavy lifting, organizing Student Vote Day and presenting the different political parties and their platforms. 

When Bélanger registers for Student Vote today, the entire school population of nearly 500 students takes part. His students take on the bulk of the responsibilities — organizing the elections, inviting the candidates to the school, creating posters, and presenting the political platforms to the other classes. 

In addition to Student Vote, Bélanger engages his students in a host of civic education activities. They do CIVIX’s Student Budget Consultation, invite their local MP to the school, visit Parliament Hill in Ottawa and attend Question Period in the House of Commons, take part in the National Assembly’s parliamentary simulation, the Youth Parliament, and the list goes on.

Through these civic education activities, Bélanger tries to encourage his students to get out of their comfort zone. For example, while examining social issues, or political platforms, he tries to help his students consider other viewpoints and other people’s realities. He frequently reminds his students: “Let’s stop being exclusive and start being inclusive. That’s how we can open up to others and reach out to them.” 

At a Glance

Name: Jean-Pierre Bélanger

Location: Victoriaville, Quebec

Grades Taught: 10 & 11

Subjects Taught: History and Civic Education, Contemporary World, Culture et citoyenneté québécoise

Years Teaching: 28

Years Involved with CIVIX: 8

CIVIX programs used: Student Vote, Rep Day, SBC, Democracy Bootcamp

Key Motivation: "Seeing my students develop the habits of active citizenship and maintain those habits long after they leave my classroom."